Regret Me Not | 김석진

Nine

It started raining on Tuesday and hadn't stopped. Namjoon and Taehyung had suggested they all get together to go to a barbecue restaurant, so that's where Victoria was headed as she walked quickly down the narrow, crowded Seoul streets.

She kept her head down under the black umbrella she carried that occasionally hit another person's. Her shoes splashed through the small puddles littering the cobblestone.

She lifted her head finally to see the group standing outside. Once she was spotted, they began to wave excitedly—or at least Taehyung did. Iseul smiled from beside Jungkook, who was holding a white umbrella over the both of them that contrasted her own.

Jin smiled softly and offered a small "Hi" when she reached them. She scanned their faces, a sudden realization coming to her.

"Where's Jimin?"

Jin frowned at this while Hoseok gestured the way she had just come. "Still at home, I think. I came straight from my studio, so I haven't seen him since this morning. I should go get him."

"But hyung!" Jungkook whined. "You were gonna tell us the funny story about the kid in your class today!"

Iseul laughed at his childishness before nodding. "Yeah!"

Hoseok smiled brightly. "You guys, I can't just leave Jimin out."

"One of us can go, then," Namjoon pitched while Yoongi kicked at the ground with his feet. Namjoon's rosewater hair was wet, but she couldn't tell whether it was from the rain or if he intentionally styled it that way with gel.

"I'll go," Victoria pitched, wanting to be helpful to her new friends.

Jin opened his mouth to protest, but Taehyung beat him to it. "But noona, you just got here!"

She smiled at him and took his hand before squeezing. "I'll be back." She looked to Hoseok. "Do you live far?"

"Down the street on the other side of the intersection," he responded skeptically. "Are you sure, noona? It's really not a problem for me to get him."

"B—" Iseul silenced Jungkook by placing her hand on his arm before he could continue. His eyes widened as he stared at their physical contact, but Iseul was too busy paying attention to the conversation to notice.

Victoria smiled. "Don't worry about it, Hoseok. I'll be quick." He faltered. She attached ah to his name, which was a form of affection, but the way she said it with her soft and focused voice reminded him of her. Discord raged in his head.

He cleared it with a shake of his head and smiled before giving her the address and code number for the door.

They started inside to get a table as she left, but Jin lingered. "Hurry back!" he called.

"Won't be long!" she threw over her shoulder with a smile.

The corners of his mouth tugged upward as he muttered to himself, watching her figure covered with the black shield get smaller. "Good..."

Victoria reached the apartment in record time, making sure to watch out for reckless drivers, which were common in the city.

"Apartment three B," she recited to herself as she strolled through the halls of the building. The floors were carpeted, which reminded her of the expensive hotels.

She located the apartment and punched in the code exactly as Hoseok had told her. She entered gingerly, making sure not to startle Jimin if he was right there or walking around naked or something.

By the look of the interior, she guessed one or both of their parents were wealthy. The kitchen was modern and upgraded, as were the hardwood floors that looked to be real cedar. There wasn't one noise coming from anywhere in the apartment, only perplexing her further.